My question is to the Minister of Agriculture.

Ontario loses 319 acres of farmland every day to development—319 acres that will never ever grow food again. Now the government is trying to pave over the greenbelt as well, and farmers are concerned. The three farm organizations that represent almost every farmer in this province have written an open letter to the Premier expressing that fact. I’d like to quote from that letter: “These losses are not sustainable and will become increasingly worse with the overreaching effects of Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022.”

My question to the minister is, does she agree with the farmers of Ontario that farmland loss at this rate is unsustainable?

I have asked this question several times and have yet to hear the minister say the word “farmland.” Does she actually represent farmers at the cabinet table—to say the word “farmland”?

A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas the population of Ontario is expected to grow by more than two million people by 2031, with approximately 1.5 million of those new residents in the greater Golden Horseshoe region, the Ontario government has announced a consultation in November regarding proposed changes to the greenbelt;

“Whereas the provincial government is taking decisive and bold action to address Ontario’s housing supply crisis by building 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years;

“Whereas these proposals could support municipalities’ plans for responsible growth and help build more than 50,000 new homes;

“Whereas to accommodate growth and support the building of more homes, the government is proposing to remove 15 areas of land, totalling approximately 7,400 acres, from the edge of the greenbelt area, affected areas may be adjacent to the existing greenbelt boundaries to an existing urban area must be on or near readily serviceable land and have the potential for homes to be built in the near future;

“Whereas if these lands are removed from the greenbelt, landowners will be expected to develop detailed plans to build housing quickly, and if conditions for these lands are not met, the government will return these properties to the greenbelt;

“Whereas, simultaneously, these proposals would add an additional 9,400 acres to the greenbelt, including a portion of the Paris-Galt moraine and 13 urban river valleys in the greater Golden Horseshoe for an overall greenbelt expansion of approximately 2,000 acres;

“Whereas this government is intent on fulfilling its commitment to get more homes built faster so that Ontario families can find a home that meets their needs and their budget;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“(1) That all members of provincial Parliament support the completion of the consultation and the expansion of the greenbelt; and

“(2) That all members of provincial Parliament support the government continuing to take decisive action to address Ontario’s critical housing shortage.”

I am happy to put my name to this petition and provide it to Kennedy.